§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in theOfficial Report each roll-on/roll-off cross-Channel passenger ferry currently operating out of Dover, its maximum passenger load and the number of occasions on which each ship was inspected by his Department in the last six months without notification; and if he is satisfied that all such ships have been operated with the recommended manning levels.
§ Mr. David MitchellRoll-on/roll-off cross-Channel passenger ferries currently operating out of Dover.
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Ferry Maximum Passenger load European Clearway 107 European Endeavour 107 European Trader 107 Pride of Bruges 1,326 Pride of Calais 2,290 Pride of Dover 2,290 Pride of Kent 1,326 Pride of Sandwich 1,035 St. Anselm 1,350 St. Christopher 1,400
Ferry Maximum Passenger load Champs Elysees 1,804 Cote D'Azur 1,600 Nord Pas De Calais 30 Prince Laurent 1,302 Princess Marie Christine 1,200 Prins Albert 1,200 Prinses Beatrix 1,500 Prinses Marie Esmeralda 1,280 Reine Astrid 1,200 Saint Eloi 1,000 Although it is the Department's normal policy to undertake some inspections without prior notification to the owner, no such inspections have been carried out in the past six months on the vessels listed above because of the large number of pre-arranged inspections that have been required. On each occasion that an inspection was carried out the manning level was satisfactory.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the recommended bridge personnel complement on a roll-on/roll-off cross-Channel ferry.
§ Mr. David MitchellIt is a statutory requirement that the bridge is manned by a duly certificated deck officer at all times when the ship is at sea. A helmsman is also required when the ship is not in automatic steering and must be immediately available to take the wheel. A lookout must be posted during the hours of darkness, during restricted visibility and at any other time when required by the officer of the watch or the master.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions marine surveyors from his Department have made unannounced inspections of cross-Channel roll-on/roll-off ferries in which they remained aboard the relevant vessel throughout the duration of the Channel crossing.
§ Mr. David MitchellThis information is not readily available.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give, for each roll-on/roll-off cross-Channel ferry inspected by marine surveyors in the last six months, where notification of intention to inspect the relevant vessel was given to the relevant company prior to inspection, what amount of time elapsed between notification and inspection.
§ Mr. David MitchellMy surveyors made 88 inspections of roll-on/roll-off cross-Channel ferries in the last six months where notification of intention to inspect was given prior to inspection. In general, at least 24 hours notice was given.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what basis the decision is made either to notify or not to notify a cross-Channel ferry operator of the intention to inspect a roll-on/roll-off ferry.
§ Mr. David MitchellIn general, the operator is notified when the inspection requires some preparatory organisation.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many inspections by marine surveyors116W have been carried out on cross-Channel roll-on/roll-off ferries in the last six months; how many of those inspections were carried out without prior notification of the intention to inspect; and if he has any plans to improve current procedures in regard to notification.
§ Mr. David MitchellA total of 118 inspections have been carried out in the last six months. Thirty inspections were carried out without prior notification. Procedures are continually kept under review.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the average length of time spent, per inspection, aboard roll-on/roll-off cross-Channel ferries by marine surveyors from his Department over the last six months.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe length of time spent, per inspection, aboard roll-on/roll-off cross-Channel ferries by my marine surveyors over the last six months varied from two surveyor hours to two surveyor days, averaging about one surveyor day.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what criteria his Department's marine surveyors satisfy themselves during an inspection of a cross-Channel ferry that the manning complement is adequately trained to perform their respective roles.
§ Mr. David MitchellMy marine surveyors satisfy themselves in two ways. A check is made of the qualifications of crew members and a drill of emergency procedures is witnessed during which crew members can be seen performing their duties and can be questioned by the surveyor.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are taken by his Department to ensure that a roll-on/roll-off cross-Channel ferry's staffing complement recorded during an inspection of the vessel at any one time is wholly representative of that vessel's appropriate manning complement once the inspection has been completed.
§ Mr. David MitchellIt is the Department's experience from subsequent inspections that the manning complement remains as inspected.
§ Mr. DouglasTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give an indication of the progress of research on roll-on/roll-off ferry studies arising from the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster; and if he will give details of the techniques to be employed on such studies.
§ Mr. David MitchellProgress is continuing to be made under the guidance of the steering committee set up in October last year to administer, assist and advise the Department on the management of the three-year programme of research into ferry design. A copy of that programme has been deposited in the Library.